Carotenoid composition and retinol equivalent in plants of nutritional and medicinal importance: Efficacy of b-carotene from Chenopodium album in retinol-deficient rats

This study aimed to (1) quantify carotenoids in leafy vegetables and plants of nutritional and medicinal
importance, (2) evaluate retinol equivalent (RE) of provitamin-A carotenoids and (3) determine efficacy
of b-carotene from Chenopodium album and to compare with retinol formed on feeding to retinol-deficient
rats for 3 weeks. b-Carotene and lutein contents (mg/100 g dry weight) ranged from 1.5 to 120
and 11.7 to 185 (leafy greens) and 0.4 to 34.7 and 11.8 to 679 (medicinal plants) whereas, a-carotene
ranged from 0.3 to 35.6 (leafy greens) and 0.1 to 15.7 (medicinal plants). RE values (mg%) ranged from
0.4 to 20 and 0.42 to 5.8 in leafy greens and medicinal plants. Efficacy of b-carotene (2400 lg/kg diet)
from C. album in retinol-deficient rats revealed a 93.6% rise in plasma retinol levels from 0.53 to
8.4 lM. The plants analysed are a good source of retinol precursors and biologically active lutein; therefore
can be exploited to meet carotenoid requirements.